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LeConte Lodge® Crew Positions

LeConte Lodge® is a rustic backcountry hiking lodge located in the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Accessible only by hiking one of five trails it is the highest overnight lodge east of the Mississippi River. With an average of 45 overnight guests each night it has been a popular destination for hikers for over seventy years. The lodge is supplied once a year by helicopter and three days a week by Llama. There is no electricity. Propane heaters and kerosene lamps are provided in the cabins. Cooking, refrigeration and hot water are made possible by LP gas.

Jobs are available during in-season, from mid-March to mid-November. Crew job duties include washing dishes, serving meals, cleaning cabins, checking in guests, and all other services related to accommodating overnight guests. We are in the hospitality business so the attention given our guests is a top priority. Having a good work ethic, an outgoing personality and the ability to relate well with people are important qualifications for the job.

Benefits include salary, tips, end of season bonus, eight days off per month and workers compensation.

LeConte Lodge® is a unique operation. If you like to hike and have the desire to join us, please click on the link at the botton of the page to fill out the application on line submit for consideration.

Basic Requirements for a Crew Member

This job requires some level of physical ability. You will be required to hike to work at least once a month. The shortest trail is 5 miles up the mountain and the longest trail is 8 miles.

This is a job that requires being able to work well with others and be a team player. You have your own room, but you are still living and working in close quarters. You must be willing to talk with each other and work through any problems or misunderstandings.

This is a drug-free workplace.

The crew eats meals together. We have different varieties of food. The cook can accommodate many different diets but it is difficult to offer food for a complete raw food or vegan diet. If you have a favorite snack that is difficult to find, we recommend you send up a supply for yourself. The cook purchases snacks to share among the crew, therefore they have to be economical, and so if you want to keep a stash of nuts or healthy munchies, you may want to send them up on the airlift.

If you are not an early riser, you will need a battery powered alarm clock.

You will need a good flashlight or headlamp.

We have been known to experience very cold temps in the spring and fall, and sometimes the shower is not available for a few days. Be prepared to not have access to a shower during this time.

We have limited ability to charge items such as ipods, cameras, and phones. You may bring these items; just remember solar panels are available for charging and the ability to charge them depends on the amount of sun we receive on a given day.

The lodge is dedicated to bringing the best backcountry lodge experience available to our overnight guests. It is the crew’s duty to take care of the guests and make sure their stay is the best possible. We are always available to answer any questions the guests may have or take care of any problems that arise.

Each crew member receives 8 days off a month-without pay. If you do not have a car to leave at the trail-head, Gatlinburg is the closest town to the Lodge. From the shortest trail it is 5 miles down the mountain and then another 10 miles to town. An alternate trail is 6.5 miles down with a 3 mile road hike into town. If you decide to spend some of your days off on the mountain, you will be charged room and board for those days. Days off may be taken consecutively or split up during the month.

Typical Day for LeConte Lodge® Crew Members

7:40 am – Set up dining room for guest breakfast8:00 am – Ring guests in for breakfast (crew serves the food and beverages – dishwashing duty rotated between crew)9:30 am – Crew begins cleaning cabins after the guests leave (this involves making beds, sweeping cabins, putting out cups and washbasins, and making sure the cabins are nice and clean for next guest – the toilets are also cleaned during this time and this job is rotated between the crew). Once the camp is clean and ready to go, the crew gets a break until lunch.12:00 pm – Lunch for crew12:30 – 5:00 pm – Office and Kitchen Shift – These shifts are worked by two of the crew and are rotated among the crew. If it is not your time to work that day, you have the afternoon off. The kitchen shift will be making cookies and beverages, stocking supplies, serving the guests hot drinks and helping with lunch. The stove is cleaned twice a week and the kitchen is mopped three times a week and these two responsibilities are rotated between crew members. The office shift is checking people into their cabins, selling shirts, keeping the office neat, answering questions and giving trail advice to hikers. Both jobs require people skills. There is a great deal of interaction with the guests.5:00 pm – Dinner for crew5:30 pm – Setting up dining room for guests dinner6:00 pm – Ring in guests for dinner (same job description as breakfast)7:30 – 8:00 pm – Cleaning up from dinner is usually complete during this time. Crew is then finished for the evening.

What’s available for day hikers at the Lodge?

We’re pleased to offer Leconte Lodge® merchandise and are happy to accept Visa, MasterCard and Discover for all your purchases while on the mountain. Please click here for services available for day hikers and overnight guests.

Location

LeConte Lodge® is located within the boundaries of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park at the top of Mt. LeConte. The lodge is a hiking destination, accessible only by foot by way of one of the five trails leading to the summit.